gh a passage between two large
fields, when she found the ice closing, and that she was in great danger
of being 'nipped.' Daggett was a man of fertile resources, and great
decision of character. Perceiving that escape was impossible, all means of
getting clear being rendered useless by the floes soon touching, both
before and behind him, he set about adopting the means most likely to save
his vessel. Selecting a spot where a curve, in the margin of the field to
leeward, promised temporary security, at least, he got his vessel into it,
anchored fast to the floe. Then he commenced cutting away the ice, by
means of axes first, and of saws afterwards, in the hope that he might
make such a cavity as, by its size and shape, would receive the schooner's
hull, and prevent her destruction. For several hours had he and his people
been at this work, when, to their joy, as well as to their great
astonishment, they were suddenly joined by Roswell and his party. The fact
was, that so intently had every one of the Vineyard men's faculties been
absorbed by their own danger, and so much was each individual occupied by
his own duty, that not a man among them had seen the boat, or even any of
the crew, until Gardiner called out to Daggett as he approached,
announcing his presence by his voice.

"This is good fortune, truly, Captain Gar'ner," said Daggett, shaking his
brother master most cordially by the hand; "good fortune, do I call it! I
was satisfied that I should fall in with you, somewhere about this group
of islands, for they lie just about where my late uncle had given us
reason to suppose some good sealing ground might be met with; but I did
not hope to see you this morning. You observe our position, Captain
Gar'ner; there is every prospect of a most awful nip!"

"There is, indeed, though I see you have been making some provision for
it. What luck have you had in digging a slip to let the schooner into?"

"Well, we might have had worse, though better would have been more
agreeable. It's plain sailing, so long as we can work above water, and you
see we've cleared a fine berth for the craft, down to the water's edge;
but, below that, 'tis blind work and slow. The field is some thirty feet
thick, and sawing through it is out of the question. The most we can do is
to get off pieces diagonally. I am not without hopes that we have done
enough of this to make a wedge, on which the schooner will rise, if
pressed hard on her off-side. I